UPDATED 02/10 2:40 p.m. ET: The NFL has confirmed that the person who was tackled by security after holding up a combined Palestinian and Sudanese flag during Kendrick Lamar's Halftime Show performance has been banned from all of the league's events for life.
As reported by USA Today, the NFL said that the person who held up the flag was part of the 400 cast members that took part in the Super Bowl LIX Hafltime Show. "No one involved with the production was aware of the individual's intent," the league said. "The individual will be banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events."
The protestor has not been identified. Roc Nation, who produced the performance, added, "The act by the individual was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal."
See original story below.
A performer displaying a Sudanese and Palestinian flag during Kendrick Lamar’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in New Orleans was tackled and escorted away from the proceedings on Sunday, Feb. 9.
The NFL later confirmed the person was part of the 400-member field cast and The New Orleans Police Department released a statement saying that “law enforcement is working to determine applicable charges in this incident.”
Footage circulating on X showed a person waving the flags with “Sudan” and “Gaza” both handwritten on them running around during Lamar's performance. At one point, the person is seen near the main part of the stage, though they’re later seen running around among background performers.
Reports state that the individual did not appear to have had their efforts make it to broadcast, though social media clips from those there in person showed what looked like security intervening. At that point, the individual, who has not been identified as of this writing, appeared to be taken away from the performance area as Kendrick’s “TV Off” continued.
In a statement to NBC News, a league rep confirmed that the individual was a part of the production's “field cast,” noting that they had allegedly hidden the flag prior to cameras rolling.
“We commend security for quickly detaining the individual who displayed the flag. He was a part of the 400-member field cast,” the rep said. “The individual hid the item on his possession and unveiled it late in the show. No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent."
Recent days have seen widespread criticism of Trump’s claims of the U.S. aiming to “take over the Gaza Strip.” Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, called this proposal a “flagrant violation of international law.” Furthermore, per Callamard, Trump’s rhetoric on this issue seeks to “dangerously dehumanize Palestinians.”
Navi Pillay, who serves as chair of the U.N.’s Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, was quoted in a Politico piece published on Sunday as saying that Trump’s stated plan “amounts to ethnic cleansing.”
